Robots

New York: Barrons, 2002. First edition. Hardcover. Fine/near fine. Approx 9 x 9 x 1 inches; 1.6 pounds. Includes more than 200 full-color photos and illustrations.Can we build a robot with humanlike intelligence? What technology is needed to produce the perfect blueprint for the ideal "living" robot? What part will robots play in the future of humanity? Are we risking robot domination of the world? This highly readable volume tells the past, present, and future stories of robots and Artificial Intelligence, more commonly known as AI. Discussed here are the dreams of the pioneers Alan Turing and John von Neumann, who envisioned making computers intelligent when they were first invented. The author also describes in detail the current state of computer and robot technology, and points out the challenges inherent in teaching a machine to "think" and make decisions. Other topics include the life cycle of a present-day robot, raw materials and energy sources required for robot construction, and experimental progress in the field of self-designing robots. This absorbing volume is science fact—not science fiction. "This fascinating book integrates science and technology while posing questions about societal issues that will affect our future...An excellent blend of biology, psychology, physics, and engineering helps the reader understand the dynamic relationship between basic and applied science...This small book is packed with information. The details are explicit, and it's full of fascinating stories and facts. The dramatic pictures and detailed diagrams provide excellent support." — Penny McLeod-Smith,"This volume is a wonderful multifaceted book about the quest to build intelligent machines that are able to survive on their own. As the chapters unfold, the exciting world of robotic science and its place in modern society comes to life...There is something for everyone in this well-written and beautifully arranged book. It provides an excellent overview of robotic science, while the approximately 200 clearly captioned illustrations tell a story all on their own." —Science Books & Films, June 2003Ruth Aylett is Professor of Intelligent Virtual Environments with the Center for Virtual Environments in the U.K. She developed expertise in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) while she worked in the micro-computing laboratory at Sheffield University in England. She later assumed a post in the Artificial Intelligence Applications Institute at Edingurgh University, Scotland. She currently teaches courses on AI and maintains close links with the National Advanced Robotics Research Center, run by UK Robotics. Book is fine. Dust jacket is near fine with minor edge wear, bumping along the edges. Jacket is not price clipped.